Autodesk Unveils New Gameware Navigation AI Middleware

Re-engineered middleware provides more open, accessible and efficient AI solution; empowers game developers to create more believable character behaviors.

Autodesk Inc. has revealed the next-generation of its artificial intelligence (AI) middleware, Autodesk Gameware Navigation. Gameware Navigation is the successor of Autodesk Kynapse AI middleware, which empowers game developers to create believable character behaviors for video games. This technology has been re-engineered to offer developers full source code access, a more accessible API (application programming interface) and remote visual debugging tools.

To date, Autodesk AI middleware has been implemented in at least 100 games to empower the creation of compelling behaviors for non-player characters. Using this technology, developers can help improve game play, while reducing development costs and cutting time to market.

"All of the tools in our Autodesk Gameware product line have been designed to streamline the game making process and reduce the need for costly custom solutions to common production challenges. With Gameware Navigation, we have overhauled our existing AI technology to make the algorithms faster and more efficient, and the API more accessible and intuitive. The result will be a tool that is much faster and easier to use, so programmers can spend more time on high-impact areas of development such as gameplay and design," said Marc Petit, senior vice president of Media & Entertainment at Autodesk.

Game developers can apply for the public beta version of Autodesk Gameware Navigation 2013 at http://gameware.autodesk.com/navigation. Autodesk anticipates the middleware will be commercially available during fall 2012.